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Patented Dec. 20. I898. G. H. MORRIS. DEVICE FOR DETECTING, NOTIFYING, 0R PREVENTING THEFT.

(Application filed Jan. 17, 189B.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

No. 6l6,l29. Patented Dec. 20, I898. G. H. MORRIS.

DEVICE FOR DETECTING, NOTIFYING, 0R PREVENTING THEFT.

(Application filed Jan. 17, 1898.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAVE HARTQG MORRIS, OF LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND.

DEVICE FOR DETECTING, NOTIFYING, OR PREVENTING THEFT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 616,129, dated December 20, 18 8- Application filed January 17, 1898. Serial No. 666,954. (No model.)

To (2Z7, whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUSTAVE HARTOG Mon- RIs, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at 12 Bold Place, Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Detecting, Notifying, or Preventing Theft, (for which I have applied for patent in Great Britain, No. 28,035, dated November 29, 1897,) of which the following isa specification.

My invention has for its principal object a combination of devices for use in case of theft or attempted theft, more especially in such cases as where an attendant in a jewelers shop, forinstance, discovers that acustomer is attempting to steal articles from the counter.

My invention is also applicable to other places than shops, such as banks. I will show and describe it as applied to a shop, reference being had to the accompanying draw-- ings, which form a part of this specification, and which are diagram matical views showing the essential features of my invention, an d in which like letters and numerals indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

My invention comprises a gate or door and shutters, and these may be used, for. instance, at night instead of the ordinary protections.

Figure 1 is avertical section through a portion of a building fitted with my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail, hereinafter described. Fig. 3 is a plan View, on a larger scale, of a portion of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a front elevation.

a I) represent the ground or floor line,while 1 shows the shop-floor, 2 the counter, and 3 the entrance.

4 shows the cellar or basement beneath the shop.

I provide a special gate or door which normally lies in a recess beneath the shop-floor, but which may be raised by power or weights to close the entrance to the shop when released, as hereinafter described. I provide one or more levers or actuating devices arranged so as to be conveniently accessible to the attendant or clerk. This gate or door 5 is preferably composed of cross-pieces 6 of metal, connected together by a number of vertical bars 7, and normally lies in the recess or basement, as shown in Fig. 1. It is maintained in this concealed position by a catch 8,

pivoted to floor 1 at 9 against the pull of weight 10, which is connected to gate 5 by cord 11, running over idle-pulleys 12. The catch 8 is connected, as by rod 13, with a footlever 14, behind counter 2, in such manner that on said lever 14 being depressed said catch 8 is withdrawn (see Fig. 2) and Weight descending raises gate 5 into its operative position, (see Fig. 4,) and thus closes the entrance. Pillars 15 or equivalent are provided at each side of gate 5 to support and guide it. The hole in floor 1 is normally closed over by plate 16, and when gate 5 rises, as above described, this plate is thrown back thereby and acts as a check to prevent entrance while said gate is moving. (See Fig. 4.)

17 are lugs to which plate 16 is pivoted.

18 is a hole in the floor of basement 4 to receive weight 10 when at its lowest position.

It will readily be seen that pressure on the foot-lever 14 will withdraw catch 8, and thus allow gate 5 to rise and to close the entrance.

- At or near thetop of pillars 15 I arrange (preferably inclosed in a protecting-case 19) a series of devices,which are brought into action by the intrusion of top of gate 5 into said case. Fig. 3 is a plan view of said case 19, its top or lid being removed for the sake of clearness.

20 are apair of electric contact-pieces attached to binding-screws 21, the latter serv ing to receive wires 23. When gate 5 rises to its topmost position, it comes into contact with pieces 20, thus completing a circuit or circuits and causing one or more electric bells to ring. These bells form no part of my invention and may be placed at any required placefor instance, in an adjoining policestation or in a caretakers room. Contact piecesof a similar construction may also be employed to close a lighting-circuit, so that the premises will be lighted up, or an alarmlight be exhibited when the devices are put into operation at night.

24 represents a supply-pipe connected with some source of air under pressure.

25 is a spring-valve of any suitable known construction, which isopened by the impact of gate 5, and 26 is a continuation of pipe 24, which carries outside the building a policewhistle or other wind alarm.

27 is a latch-bolt which is pushed back by ends are squared or otherwise shaped the rising gate in opposition to spring 28, and which after top cross-bar 6 has passed it immediately automatically springs beneath it and so locks the gate in its upper or operative position.

29 is a vertical casing which protects the releasing mechanism for bolt 27. This mechanism consists of cord 30, attached at one end to bolt 27, running over pulleys 31 and fastened at its lower end to spindle 32, whose to receive or engage a key.

33 shows the keyhole 011 the outside of the building.

34 is a ratchet-wheel on spindle 32, and 35 its pawl, which may be thrown over out of gear by a handle 36 inside the shop.

The mode of action is as follows: On the attendant discovering or suspecting theft on the part of a customer he may by depressing lever let cause the exit from the shop to be closed, as above described, and thus detain the suspected person and also prevent the entrance of accomplices. The rising-gate 5, at or near the end of its upward travel, opens cook and thus sounds the police-alarm. The alarm bell or bells will also ring by reason of contact-pieces 20 being connected.

When it is desired to again lower gate 5, a

key is applied to spindle 32, and it is turned so as to wind up cord and thus to withdraw bolt 27. Gate 5 may then be pulled down and catch 8 replaced in operative position. Pawl is afterward temporarily thrown out of mesh with ratchet-wheel 34 and bolt 27 thus allowed to spring back into its active position.

In cases where there is a second or private entrance to the shop catch 8 may be put into its closed position, Fig. 2, after the gate has been raised, and will thus by intruding beneath bottom cross-bar 6 act as an additional look. I may also provide extra locks of any suitable known construction for use in maintaining said gate 5 in its closed position. These additional locking devices are intended to be used when the premises are closed for the night.

The above-described devices may also be applied to the windows of the building and will replace the ordinary shutters, as well as be ready for use, Where a window is broken by accident or design, to prevent the goods displayed from being snatched.

When the above-described devices are intended to be used only as emergency protections-that is, not regularly-instead of the ordinary protections, the foot-lever 14 instead of projecting above the surface of the floor may lie level therewith and be concealed by covering material, such as linoleum, so that in case of burglary it will automatically release the gate 5 when trodden on, and thus secure the thief and give the alarm.

I Wish it to be understood that while I have shown the best way known to me of carrying my invention into effect the details and relative arrangements of the various parts Will vary according to the shape and style of the building to which it is applied. For instance, there may be more than one foot-lever 14, and the location of the weight may vary according to accommodation. The foot-lever may be replaced by a finger-push, which will close a circuit and by means of solenoids will release catch 8.

IVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with avertically-moving gate, and means for opening the same, a pipe connected with a supply of air under pressure, a valve in the pipe, adapted to be opened by the moving gate, and a whistle to be sounded upon the opening of the valve.

2. The combination of gate 5, means for raising same, catch 8, means for withdrawing said catch, latch-bolt 27, spring 28, cord 30, pulleys 31, spindle 32, ratchet 34, pawl 35 and handle 36, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in the presence of two witnesses, this 3d day of January, 1898.

GUSTAVE IIARTOG MORRIS.

l/Vitnesses:

PHILIP HENRY COVENTRY, WILLIAM JOSEPH BARBER. 

